Dungeon Odyssey [EN]: Chapter 37

Dungeon Journal – Episode 38

#15. Hybrid

The black marketeer bowed even lower, showering Kim Jin-woo with congratulations.

“No lord of the 9th floor has ever ascended to the Nether nobility. My sincerest congratulations on becoming a Nether Baron.”

Kim Jin-woo, whose ultimate goal was to become a Nether Duke, didn’t fully grasp the significance of being a Nether Baron.

Nevertheless, the allure of the Nether Baron’s position was undeniable.

[Even the most capricious labyrinth lords bow before the nobles of the Nether. With a noble ruling a labyrinth, harboring wicked intentions requires considerable courage.]

Another message window popped up. Having been thoroughly tormented by the Dragon Lord Anaxthus, Kim Jin-woo found the idea that other labyrinth lords couldn’t easily reveal their dark intentions extremely appealing.

After a moment’s thought, Kim Jin-woo retrieved the ring from the wooden box and slipped it onto his finger. The slightly loose ring shrunk to fit perfectly as soon as it touched his skin.

[You have been elevated to the rank of Nether Baron.]

[The labyrinth area is now declared your barony. Intelligent creatures and beasts will not dare to trespass without your permission.]

[All beings in the Nether pay homage to the birth of a new baron. For the next three months, the probability of hostile actions from intelligent creatures and beasts will be extremely low.]

[You have gained the authority to impose taxes on those passing through your territory.]

[You can now appoint the most loyal and valiant within your territory as knights.]

[The formation of a knight order is now possible.]

[You have gained the qualification to pass through the deeper levels.]

The gem on the ring flashed brilliantly before the unique dungeon emblem of the Naga Labyrinth was engraved upon it.

And when all the changes were complete, Kim Jin-woo had to recheck the message window.

[Nether nobles possess special powers. One of these powers is granted to Nether Baron Kim Jin-woo.]

[You have acquired the authority of a lower-ranking noble engraved on the seal.]

Perhaps he had witnessed this many times before. The black marketeer patiently waited for Kim Jin-woo to observe the changes that came with becoming a baron, without rushing him.

And when everything was finally over, the black marketeer once again offered his congratulations.

“More importantly, what are your plans for the Dragon Lord’s Labyrinth?”

Kim Jin-woo, who had been somewhat elated thanks to the Baron’s seal, frowned as he belatedly recalled the task at hand.

***

“It’s a miracle I even won.”

Seeing the core of the Dragon Lord’s Labyrinth—once ruled by Dragon Lord Anaxthus—for the first time, Kim Jin-woo was once again amazed by his victory.

The core, located in the center of the Dragon Lord’s Labyrinth, radiated a light that was incomparable to the core of the Naga Labyrinth. It was almost embarrassing to compare the two.

[Core of the Labyrinth, now without a master]

□Labyrinth Core (Rank 7) 5400/7000

-As befitting a core that once governed a Rank 7 labyrinth, it possesses immense energy and potential. The greedy Dragon Lord only accumulated dungeon energy and never utilized it. As a result, the labyrinth core, awaiting a new master, holds an enormous amount of energy intact.

Without needing to use the Parasite skill, Kim Jin-woo could clearly assess the state of the core through the victor’s authority gained from his victory over Dragon Lord Anaxthus.

“This is ridiculous; he just kept piling up energy, not realizing he was going to die. I wonder if he closed his eyes in resentment, even in death.”

Kim Jin-woo nodded at the black marketeer’s scathing remark. If the Dragon Lord had properly gathered his forces and launched an attack, Kim Jin-woo would have been torn to shreds without even seeing Anaxthus’s face.

However, the victory brought about by the overlapping of luck and the defeat caused by the Dragon Lord’s foolishness were no longer important.

The most important thing was that the Dragon Lord was dead, and he had survived.

And now was the moment to claim the spoils of war, the victor’s right.

“It seems the price our Black Merchant has to pay will go up. I never imagined the labyrinth core would be in such pristine condition.”

The black marketeer’s presumptuous attitude made it seem as if he had already taken over the labyrinth. Kim Jin-woo frowned slightly and said coldly.

“I haven’t decided yet.”

“Pardon?”

“I said I haven’t decided to hand over this labyrinth to the Black Merchant.”

“B-but surely, you said you didn’t have the capacity to manage it…….”

The Naga Labyrinth and the Dragon Lord’s Labyrinth were three days apart. Even with a portal, managing them wouldn’t be easy.

And a poorly managed labyrinth, like the Naga Labyrinth had been recently, was nothing more than delicious prey for someone.

The baron’s authority would filter out most enemies, but it wasn’t absolute.

That’s why the Black Merchant had been recommending the sale of the labyrinth. In fact, until coming here, Kim Jin-woo had planned to sell the labyrinth to the black marketeer at a high price.

But his mind had changed.

Seeing the intact labyrinth core, he became greedy. He coveted the vast dungeon energy and the Rank 7 status that the Naga Labyrinth had not yet achieved.

So, at this moment, he decided to reverse his decision.

“Did I ever say for certain that I would sell the labyrinth?”

“Not exactly, but you certainly agreed that you didn’t have the capacity to manage it…….”

The black marketeer’s words quickened, as if he was getting impatient. Kim Jin-woo cut him off coldly.

“That’s right. I certainly don’t have the ability to manage the Dragon Lord’s Labyrinth. Three days is close, but it’s also awkward.”

“In that case, surely!”

The black marketeer’s expression brightened again.

“Our Black Merchant is willing to pay more than anyone else in the Nether. And we promise never to hand over this labyrinth to any forces hostile to the Baron’s labyrinth.”

The black marketeer chattered away, his face flushed with excitement. Kim Jin-woo casually interjected.

“I said I don’t have the capacity to manage it, but did I say I would sell it?”

“What is this……?”

The black marketeer’s face twisted again.

“I told you, I’m not selling the labyrinth.”

Seeing the black marketeer from the Black Merchant, who had been subtly pressuring the Naga Labyrinth, groveling before him, rising and falling with his every word, was quite a sight.

“What exactly are you planning to do? You agree that you don’t have the capacity to manage the labyrinth, but you won’t sell it. What are you going to do, just abandon the labyrinth……?”

The black marketeer, looking tearful, stopped abruptly.

“Could it be?”

Kim Jin-woo grinned at the black marketeer’s astonishment.

“That’s right. I have no intention of owning the Dragon Lord’s Labyrinth.”

He stroked the labyrinth core, which was waiting for its master, and turned to the black marketeer.

“I’m going to plunder it.”

“W-wait a minute! With the number of labyrinths already dwindling due to the war with the surface, why would you deliberately destroy a perfectly good labyrinth……!”

The black marketeer rushed forward, as if he would grab his pant leg in desperation. But Kim Jin-woo ignored him and made a decision while looking at the message that appeared before his eyes.

[Do you want to deactivate the labyrinth and separate the labyrinth core?]

“Yes.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the labyrinth core, which had been shining brilliantly, lost its light.

“Ah……!”

The black marketeer slumped down with a look of despair, groaning. Kim Jin-woo looked down at the black marketeer’s round head and said.

“A victor should naturally plunder.”

As soon as his words fell, the Nagas who had followed him began to plunder the intact labyrinth facilities and treasures.

***

The owner’s room, which had been lavishly decorated to suit the Dragon Lord’s taste, was completely trashed.

The Down Gems [a type of valuable gem found in dungeons] and various jewels that had been embedded in the walls were long gone, plundered by the Nagas, and even at this moment, the sound of something being broken and torn off continued.

“Just, just take the core! That’s all you need to take!”

The black marketeer shouted with a resentful face, but Kim Jin-woo paid no attention.

“Why are you completely destroying the labyrinth? This way, a labyrinth can never be established here again!”

“That’s exactly what I want.”

The black marketeer looked up at him again with a blank expression.

“I don’t want another labyrinth to be created near my labyrinth ever again.”

“The position of baron is not something to be taken lightly! Ordinary guys won’t even dare to approach!”

“That’s right. Ordinary guys won’t even dare to approach.”

It was something he had already confirmed through the message window. The black marketeer’s words were not false. However,

“I don’t like that word ‘ordinary.’ If there’s a crazy bastard who rushes in, there won’t be a better prey than this place.”

Faced with an irrefutable logic, the black marketeer opened and closed his mouth before hanging his head.

Feeling a strange sense of victory, Kim Jin-woo grinned and said.

“Well, the Black Merchant still needs a lot, right? I have no intention of taking all those terrible things.”

He pointed to the bizarre decorations and items that reflected Dragon Lord Anaxthus’s taste, things that only a dragon could use, and said in a leisurely tone.

“Let’s make a deal. It will be a very beneficial deal for both of us.”

The black marketeer made an angry face but couldn’t refuse and soon ran to a corner of the owner’s room, piled high with goods, and began to check the items.

***

In the end, the Black Merchant’s black marketeer had to buy the ‘useless’ items that Kim Jin-woo didn’t take, the things that he and the Nagas didn’t need, at a high price.

“Ugh. Thank you for trading with our Black Merchant.”

The black marketeer, as if it were his duty, gave his greetings and shuddered before disappearing.

“Now, let’s go! To our home!”

The newly replenished Naga workers shouted at his words.

***

“Hoo!”

The air of the surface, which he hadn’t breathed in a long time, was incredibly sweet. Kim Jin-woo, who had been thoroughly exhausted by the stuffy and humid air of the Nether, took several long breaths in and out.

It felt like he was finally alive.

The war with the Dragon Lord was over, and he had taken the spoils. Probably, no urgent matters would arise for a while. So, he decided to enjoy a long-awaited rest.

When he returned, he would have to deploy the newly extracted labyrinth core and contemplate where to use the Blood Mark’s heart, which had finished its research and refinement, but for now, just being free from the battlefield’s stench of blood and tension was a blessing.

“I’m going to forget your face. Hyun-ji is coming, and if even you are so infrequent, what fun do Mom and Dad have living.”

“Hey, don’t say useless things to the kid. Jin-woo, don’t worry about Mom and Dad and do whatever is comfortable for you. Don’t feel burdened. A man should do his own thing at that age.”

The family he hadn’t seen in a long time was still warm. His heart, which had been tense, finally relaxed at the unchanging welcome, and a smile appeared on his face.

“I’m sorry. I’ll visit whenever I have time for the time being.”

“Geez, why do you say useless things and burden the kid? He has to make a living, too.”

Kim Jin-woo smiled brightly as he saw his father’s face, unable to hide his satisfaction even as he said that.

Kim Jin-woo had decided to rest for a while, but everyone knows that things in the world don’t go as planned.

“What’s the matter?”

[Geez, you’re so stiff. You don’t even say hello and just jump right in?]

Kim Jin-woo, belatedly recalling the Down Gems he had in his arms at Baek Seonsaeng’s call after a long time, got up.

“I’ll head over there.”

[Oh, would you? I’m getting old, so it’s uncomfortable to talk on the phone. A person has to talk face to face; talking to the air feels strange…….]

Baek Seonsaeng, who was talking nonsense, soon said he would wait and hung up the phone.

“Are you going to be late? Hyun-ji is coming later; you should see her face after a long time.”

“I’ll be back before then.”

Kim Jin-woo left a rough greeting and headed straight to Baek Seonsaeng’s appraisal office.

“You’ve come?”

Baek Seonsaeng, who greeted him sitting at his desk as always, immediately brought up the matter.

“How’s the exploration of that labyrinth I mentioned last time going? Have you had any success?”

Baek Seonsaeng had asked him to scout out the circumstances of the abandoned labyrinth. At that time, he was on the verge of war with the Dragon Lord, so he couldn’t pay attention to it. Naturally, there was no success.

“Ugh. This has become troublesome.”

“What is it? I know this isn’t a time-sensitive matter.”

“Everyone in the world knows that the Nether is vast and the lower levels are dangerous. It’s natural that it takes time. But do the people who give money care about that? I’m dying.”

It seemed the client was badgering Baek Seonsaeng.

“Didn’t I tell you before? There would be others taking on this request besides us. It seems they’re moving quite seriously.”

“They couldn’t have even started properly yet.”

Considering when he first received the request, even if they had left immediately, it would be a tight schedule to reach the 7th floor where the labyrinth was located.

“Does the client even know such detailed circumstances? All they know how to do is make and spend money.”

Baek Seonsaeng’s face looked 10 years older than before, as if he had been through a lot.

“So, I was wondering, wouldn’t you like to go in this time?”

Baek Seonsaeng asked directly.

“You don’t need to succeed at once. I don’t expect it, and I know it’s impossible. I just want you to make a gesture. That way, I can save face with the client.”

It seemed that the high-ranking person who had entrusted the request was so powerful that even Baek Seonsaeng found it difficult to deal with.

Kim Jin-woo frowned as he looked at Baek Seonsaeng, who was making a somewhat unreasonable request.

“It’s not difficult to go in, but why waste time like that…….”

“Think of it as saving a person and listen to me. If you really don’t want to, you can just wander around the labyrinth alone as you usually do. After all, the client won’t know what you did in the Nether.”

Kim Jin-woo hesitated at the repeated requests.

Anyway, he had time for the next month. Although there was a condition of three months, he had also received absolute safety as a side effect of rising to the rank of baron.

The war with the Dragon Lord was over, and it would take some time to deploy the newly acquired labyrinth core.

If he had to, he could do it. Besides, Kim Jin-woo himself was concerned about the existence of the masterless labyrinth.

“Well, that’s not difficult.”

“Oh! Thank you. You saved me. I’ll give you some good information in return.”

Baek Seonsaeng said with a bright expression.

“Good information?”

At his question, Baek Seonsaeng gave a sly smile on his wrinkled face.